Taking My Apple Watch to NYC

San Francisco is the wrong place to wear this watch.

Instead of standing out, the Apple Watch grants you membership to a community of complainers.

Apple Watches are everywhere in SF. Half of the people at my gym have an Apple Watch. One of them bought the gold edition.

Too many people know what this watch could eventually become. It’s a version one. Something defined by promise. Living in this tech culture means you can’t own the watch and fully experience it as a fashion statement or as a work of magic.

So I took my watch to NYC.

On my way through SFO, I was the second person to use Passbook to get through TSA. Suddenly my boarding pass was on my wrist. This is the first time I’ve ever had a positive interaction with a TSA agent. He turned to another agent and said, “That’s so cool!”

Then when it was time to board I used Passbook again. The Virgin America gate agent asked to hold the watch. She was lovestruck, as if holding a puppy.

In NYC, I asked Siri, “Where’s Blue Apron” and walking directions showed up right on my wrist. That’s so cool.

Then, when I wanted to take a two person-selfie, I used the watch as a remote control rather than contorting my fingers (the iPhone 6 is big, even for me).

NYC is a walking town. And the watch told me exactly how many steps I took.

And then, when it was time to come back home, I impressed the TSA and gate agents at JFK all over again.

I fly a lot. And these little conveniences of getting through security faster and with friendlier interactions actually matter.

But most of all, NYC reminded me that SF is a tech bubble. As insiders, we can make magic, but can’t experience it.